Ste a m -g en e r ato r



T. GREEN.

STEAM GENERATOR.

Patented June 22, 1886.

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No Model.) 4 sheets-sheen 2. T. GREEN.

STEAM GENERATUR.

Patented June 22., 1886.

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T. GREEN.

STEAM GENEEATOE. N0. 344,268. Patented June 22, 1886.

IN ifm/T012 (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

T. GREEN.

STEAM GENERATOR. No. 344,268. Patented June 2.2, 1886.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS GREEN, OF JOPLIN, MISSOURI.

STEAM-GENERATO R.

.lD-CIFICAI'ION forming part of Letters Patent No. 344,268, dated June22, 1886.

Y Application filed March 19, 1886. Serial No. 195,853. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THoMAs GREEN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Joplin, in the county of Jasper and State ofMissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSteam-Generators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to lettersor figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

My invention has reference to steam-generators, and it consists in theimprovements hereinafter described and set forth, whereby I am enabledto provide agenerator of improved form and construction, that will op'-erate with comparatively small amount of water, and at the same timeeffect a considerable saving of fuel and heat and render the circulationof the wat-er automatic.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figurelis a perspective view of a steam-generator constructed in accordancewith my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, the furnace proper beingsectioned. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the furnace and its grate.Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section taken through the boiler,feeddrums, and watercirculating tubes and flues. Fig. 5 is a sectionalview illustrating the interior arrangement of the condenser; and Fig. 6,a detail perspective View illustrating the device for automaticallysupplying and empty ing the feed-drums.

In order to systematically describe my improvement I shall first confinethe description to the furnace proper, and then detail the arrangementof the remaining parts of the generator.

A refers to the body of the furnace, which may be of any preferred formor shape, and contains at its top, rear,- and upper portions of itssides an interior wall, B, between which is formed a water-space, B.

a designates a bearing located on the inside of the furnace at its rearwalls.

a designatesa second bearing formed in the front wall of said furnace,and within these bearings a a' bears a horizontal shaft, G, whichextends longitudinally through the upper portion of said furnace, asshown most clearly in Fig. 2, the said shaft projecting beyond the frontof the furnace and carrying a series of graduated pulleys, b.' The saidshaft is hol- W and connects with a tube, C, which is arranged, as shownin Fig. 2, concentric with said shaft to form a revolving grate. Therear end of the tube C communicates with the water-space B through theshaft C and stuffingbox.

A hopper, D, is located above the furnace, and communicates with thelatter through an inclined feed-duct, d, which is adapted to deliver thefuel into the front of the revolving grate at a point above the frontbearing, a', the hopper D being provided at its bottom with a transversefeed and reducing roller, d', which latter is driven by any suitablesource. The shaft of the roller d is belted with one of the pulleys b,so as to drive the shaft C. A fan or blower, D, has its air-duct d2arranged to deliver a blast of air through the revolving grate in adownward direction toward the rear thereof.

It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the shaft C is so mounted in itsbearings a a that it in clines slightly toward the rear, causing a likeinclination in the position of the revolving grate. By this means anyimproper accumulation of fuel at the front of the grate is prevented,while an even regular feed of said fuel toward the rear of the grate isinsured. Inasmucli as the shaft C and its grate are located in the upperportion of the furnace, a sufcient space remains in the lower part ofthe same to be utilized as an ash-pit, to which access may be readilyhad through an opening covered by a door, d, located at the front of thefurnace.

E E refer to horizontal pipes, which are connected together at theirends by horizontal and vertical bends E E, and within these pipes arelocated pipes F F, which communicate at one end with the lower rearportion of the furnace and at the other end with asmoke-stack, E3, sothat the said pipes F F and their bends constitute a continuous flue toconvey the products of combustion from the furnace. It will thus be seenthat an annular water-space is IOO formed between the pipes E and F,which wa- I ter-space is connected with the water-space of the pipes EEabove and at one side by means of pipes f.

e e designate small tubes, which are arranged horizontally in the upperportion of the pipes F, and are connected together by return-bends, sothat the tubes e in each pipe F constitute a continuous water-tube,which is connected at each end with the annular water-space surrounding.The water-space of the lower pipe E, which is first in the circulation,is supplied with water from the furnace by means of a pipe, f. Y

Centrally over the upper pipes E E is located a horizontal boiler, G-,which communi- Cates with the water-spaces of the upper pipes by meansof inclined pipes r/ L(/,Vwhich also serve as a supplemental means forsupporting said boiler. The boiler G is provided witha steamdome, G',which may communicate with the steam-chest of an engine to operate thelatter. It is intendedthat exhaust-steam from said engine will bereturned by a pipe, g, to a condenser, II. The construction of thiscondenser is most clearly shown in Fig. 5, and consists of a case, h, inwhich are located a series of vertical tubes, h', communicating with theatmosphere through openings in the top and bottom of the case. By thisarrangement the steam admitted to the condenser is condensed by comingin contact with the tubes.

In the top of the condenser is located an opening, which is guarded byan eXteriorly-threaded nipple,h, designed to form a seat for a valve, h,which is limited by a cage, h1, composed of a series of curved wirescarried by a n ut, h5, which engages said nipple and limits the removalof the valve. The end of the pipe g which enters the condenser extendsup ashort distance into the same, so that its end will constitute a seatfor another ball-valve, g, which is limited by' a cage carried by saidpipe. It will be understood that the valve g3 prevents any back pressurethat might be exerted from the condenser through the pipe g.

g is a pipe which communicates with the condenser through the topthereof, and is adapted to supply water to the condenser from anysuitable source, in order to supply any deiiciency in the amountregularly required. In

.the case h is located a glass panel, t', which permits a thermometer onthe inside of the condenser to be readily inspected from the outside, inorder that the attendant may be informed to what extent and at whattemperature the steam is being condensed. A watergage, i', on the ease hindicates the amount of water iu the condenser when desirable.

Above the boiler G are located two parallel steam-drums, l l, each ofwhich is adapted to be supplied with hot water from the condenser bymeans of a pipe, J, which intersects a `horizontal pipe, J, the ends ofwhich commu-y nicate, respectively, with the drums I l.

In the pipe J at either side of the pipe J is located a check-valve.

A horizontal pipe, K, communicates at its Y center with the steam-dome,G, and the ends of said pipe K are connected to horizontal pipes K K,which extend rearwardly and enter the drums I l beyond the pipe J. Eachpipe K K is centrally provided with a valve, which is opened' and closedby the part revolution of a/spindle, k, extending through the side ofthepipe. Rigidly mounted on the end of said spindle is a bell-crank levercomposed of the parts 7c 7a2, and supported at its middle, as shown inFig. 6. The part k2 is inclined and carries an adjustable weight, 7c,while the other part, k', is normally maintained horizontally by theweight 7c3, and carries at its end a hollow iron ball, k", which isconnected by flexible tube k5`with the end of the adjacent drum. Theball 7c* is hollow and provided with a small check-valve. Each of thepipes K K2 is provided above the point where said pipe enters the drumwith an escape-valve, which communicates with the atmosphere, and has aspindle, Z, projecting through the pipe and carrying part i', which isconnected by a rod, m., to an ear located on the bellcrank levercomposed of parts k 7c.

In operation, the water after being heated in the furnace passestherefrom through the water-space and tubes, where it is subjected to afurther heating by the products of combustion in the iiue, therebyutilizing the greatest possible amount of-heat. Steam passes into theboiler G, and from thence is supplied to an engine, after which'itreturns to the condenser, as previously described. It is desir- ICO ablethat the water should be taken from the condenser for recirculation atthe highest possible degree without going into steam, the higher thetemperature the quicker heated and-the greater the saving in fuel. Thisdesideratum is accomplished by using the thermometer and glass panel, sothat the attendant will always know at what temperature the water isbeing drawn from the condenser. In order to insure the proper automaticreturn ofthe condensed water to the circulating-tubes and jacket of thegrate and furnace, the following occurs: Hot water is admitted from thecondenser to one of the drums, (say drum I,) and when said drum isfilled the water passes through the tube h5. to the hollow ball ki,increasing the weight of the latter and causing it to descend and raisethe ball k, thereby moving the spindle lc and opening the valve, s thatsteam is admitted from the dome G to the drum I, thereby effecting thedischarge of the water from said drum through a pipe, a, back to thefront of the shaft C, to be again heated and circulated. Vhen all thewater has passed from the drum I and ball kl, the weight of the ball kiirestores the lever to its first position, cutting otli' the steam-supplythrough the pipe k2, and operating the spindle Z of the exhaust-valve,so that the steam in the drum I will pass to the atmosphere. The, waterlikewise passes to IIO the drum I', and is discharged therefrom, as

previously described with regard to the drum I. The filling and emptyingof the drums takes place alternately, steam entering and escaping fromone drum while water enters and is discharged from the other. In orderto prevent the steam in one drum from exerting a back-pressure on thewater in the pipe J,the check-valves in the pipe J at each side of thepipe J are forced to their seat by the steam.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the steam-generatingapparatus herein described is of simple, positive, and effectiveoperation, that the water at its most serviceable and desirabletemperature is automatically returned to the furnace for reheating andcirculation, and that great economy in fuel is secured.

An air-opening is made in each ball kt, so that when water enters theair may be readily expelled.

Check-valves are located in each pipe a, adjacent to the drums I l', sothat the backpressure of the water in said pipes a and furnacewater-space cannot affect the water or steam in the said drums.

An openingis formed in the furnace-bottom, which opening is closed by aplug, in order that sediment may be removed from the water-space.

It will be observed that the rear of the grate is formed by bending thepipe composing the same spirally, until the proper diameter is obtained,after which the rings concentric with the shaft are bent horizontally.

I claim- 1. The combination, in a steam-generating apparatus, of asteam-generator, a condenser, and stationary feeding-drum communicatingwith said condenser, a connection between the steam-generator and saidfeeding-drum, and devices for admitting steam to said drum to effect thereturn of the water to the steamgenerator, substantially as set forth.

2. rl`he combination, in a steam-generating apparatus, of asteamgenerator, a condenser, stationary feeddrums l I', communicatingtherewith and with the steam-generator, and devices for automaticallyadmitting steam alternately to said feed-dra ms to force the water underpressure therefrom, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in an automatic feeding device for steam-generatingapparatus, of a drum, a steam-pipe communicating therewith and providedwith a valve, a weighted lever controlling said valve, and a hollow ballmounted on said lever, and a flexible tube connecting said ball with thefeed-drum, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, in a feeding devicefor steam generating apparatus,of a drum, a steam-water supply communicating therewith, a valvecontrolling said steam supply, a weighted lever controlling said valve,a valve for said drum connected to said lever, a hollow ball mounted onsaid lever and communieating with the drum through a flexible tube,substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, in a boiler or steamgenerating furnace, of a furnaceproper, a hollow shaft mounted longitudinally therein and connected to awater-supply, a tube coiled concentrically around said shaft to form aeylindrical grat-e and communicating with the Water-supply through saidshaft, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, in a steam-generating apparatus, of a furnaceprovided with a water-space, a hollow shaft mounted in said furnace andprovided with a revolving tubular grate communicating with said shaftand water-space, a discharge-opening located beneath said grate for theproducts of combustion, and a blower, substantially as described.

7. The combination, in a steam-generating apparatus, of a furnace properhaving a water-space and a discharge-opex-iing for the products ofcombustion, pipes F F, to receive said products of combustion, pipes EE, surrounding said pipes F F to form annular waterspaces, andcommunicating with the waterspace of the furnace, steam-boiler, andcondenser, and devices for returning the condensed water to thewater-space of the furnace, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, in a steam-generating apparatus, of a furnace properhaving a water-space and a discharge-opening for the products ofcombustion, pipes F F, to receive said products of combustion, pipes EE, surrounding said pipes F F, to form annular waterspaces, andcommunicating with the waterspaccs of the furnace, tubes c e, locatedwithin the pipes F F and connected in circulation with the water-spaceof said pipes and of the furnace, a boiler, and feed-water devices,substantially as described.

9. The combination, in a steam generating apparatus, of asteam-generator, a condenser communicatingtherewith, a pipe, g', forfeeding the condenser, a stationary feed-drum communicating with saidcondenser, and devices for admitting steam to said drum to effect thereturn of the water to the steam-generator, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, inl a steam-generating apparatus, of asteam-generator, a condenser communicating therewith, a pipe, g, fordelivering steam to the condenser, and provided with a valve, g3, toprevent back-pressure, a stationary feed-drum communicating with saidcondenser, and devices for admitting steam to said drum to effect thereturn of the water to the steam-generator, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination, in a steam-generating apparatus, of asteam-generator, a condenser communicating therewith and consisting of acase having a series of cooling-tubes passing through the same, a valvedpipe for admitting steam to said condenser, a stationary feeddrumcommunicating with said condenser,and devices for admitting steam tosaid drum to IOO IIO

effect the return ofthe Water to the steamgenerator, substantially asdescribed.

l2. The combination, ina boiler or steam-y generating furnace, of aninclined hollow shaft bearing in said furnace, a pipe coiledconcentrically around the same to forni circular grate and communicatingwith said hollow shaft, and a hopper adapted to deliver fuel to thefront portion of said grate, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination, in a boiler or steamgenerating furnace, of a shaftbearing therein, a pipe coiled concentrically around the same, so as toform a circular grate, the distance between the coils of one portion ofthe grate being greater than those at another, substantially as setforth.

14. The combination, in a boiler or steamgenerating furnace, of a hollowshaft bearing' therein, a pipe coiled concentrically around said shaftto form a circular grate and communicating with said pipe, and a seriesof graduated pulleys mounted on said shaft, substantially as set forth.

l5. The combination, in a boiler or steam.

generating furnace having a Waterspace, of a hollow shaft located insaid furnace and communicating at one end through a stuffing-box withsaid water-space, a pipe coiled concentrically around said shaft to forma circular grate, and a shield, p, guarding said stuffingbox andpipe-connection, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination, in a boiler or steamgenerating furnace, of a hollowshaft located therein, a tube coiled concentrically around said shaft toform a circular grate and communicating therewith, the tube of saidgrate being formed into concentric coils at its rear to present a backfor the grate, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS GREEN.

Witnesses:

E. W. JOHNSON, HORACE L. BEALL.

